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Ghomeshi and his sexual assaults spanning 25 years. Another story to read alongside the trial. Canadaland has an article on various emails Jian wrote to his victims to make sure they felt guilty and too ashamed to go to the police. Thank you Jane Eatin Hamilton. Thank you for speaking up when it is so hard to do.

Jian Ghomeshi, you [redacted]. I don’t know you very well, but I know this: one night in early 2004, after I’d been awarded a writing prize in Ottawa, you followed me to a side room annexed to the main hall, where I’d gone to get away from the crowds, and while my (then) wife was in the bathroom or off getting another drink, I’m not sure, you put your hand on me. That hand. One of the very hands that is being discussed in court this week. You closed the distance between us and you massaged my shoulder/neck while talking to me about how I needed to relieve the stress of my big win. Eventually my (then) wife returned, you dropped your hand (that hand), and we smiled politely and “uh-huh’d” while you bashed the Rockies, BC…

Weak article on Vox about the worries, no TERRORS of white college profs. Even that photo, I find sickening. Really? The ones that DO the silencing, discriminating, white-washing… are the ones persecuted now?!

That is like saying we discriminate against Christianists when they want to discriminate against homosexuals, lesbians, bi, trans* and intersex people. And we don’t legally allow them to do that. Because discrimination of marginalized folks.

Good to remember I have acquaintances who actually believe this.

Lastly: Are you KIDDING me with the photo? White man not allowed to speak?!?!

“‘Emotional discomfort is [now] regarded as equivalent to material injury, and all injuries have to be remediated.’ Hurting a student’s feelings, even in the course of instruction that is absolutely appropriate and respectful, can now get a teacher into serious trouble.”

Freddie ArpsDid you check his links though? He cherry picks from one of the women he cites. “Forgets” to mention that what she is talking about is this:
“”its science black& latinos are dumber! its science women are lesser!” and ppl be like well its science so its law. bamboozled”

She is NOT rejecting scientific enquiry, nor dismissing scientific enquiry because it was done by white men. Unless the shoes fits.

I have heard from female professors similar worries, but why doesn’t he blame the students’ complaints on white privilege and coddling and golden spoons and never seeing consequences? You know… instead of on social justice?

He is using straw men arguments throughout. And it is a plain lie that in the course of instruction that is appropriate and respectful, he could get into serious trouble because he hurt someone’s feelings.

That smacks of “feminization” of education misogyny.

T.K.It also sounds like the issue is the school administration, not those that complain

D.J.I don’t know about that. The fact that people feel justified complaining about hurt feelings is a sea change, imo.

D. J. The unspoken side of the argument that the author advances is that academics ought to have more license to do whatever they want in the classroom without consequences. As we all know, that also tends to facilitate bad teaching in general. That said, I think students are a justifiably more important stakeholder in the education industry than ever before due to the rising costs of education… of course they expect to be treated like customers (whose needs matter) when they’re billed like them.

Freddie ArpsD, really, read the page to which he links when he says two women librarians are saying believe an accuser don’t ask for proof.

It’s completely false! The women never said that and the writer he links to calls the women who accuse another librarian of sexual misconduct as #TeamHarpy. Not even their supporters say that.

I am a lover of the Formal Theory of Logic and how it applies to persuasion, and this article falls apart at every corner.

Three conversations. Well, two and one friend thinking out loud. And one last one.

Conversation 1

M.S.Shout out to all the trans people (especially people of colour) out there who continue to endure their struggles without financial security, family backing, safety and security from violence and media popularity points. You deserve better than the shit you get dealt with on a daily basis.

Society just apparently needs a few days to feel good about itself for supporting one privileged person. The rest of you are not all forgotten by all of us, I promise.

M.S.Don’t get me wrong – I think it’s great that someone, regardless of their status in society and their privilege (or lack of) can finally become the person that they know they really are and want to be. It’s wonderful, no matter what.

However, to call

Caitlyn a “trailblazer for trans rights” is a joke. I don’t honestly believe society is going to suddenly become more accepting of trans folks just because one privileged celebrity transitioned and gained media spotlight over it. The same masses of people shouting out support for Caitlyn can’t even be bothered to see how horribly messed up it is that trans people have been murdered in the double digits in the US alone so far this year. But we’re gonna splash Caitlyn on the front of a magazine and call that a step in the right direction while ignoring all the injustices that have been going on for years and years? What the hell kind of blanketed progress is that?

Progress does not come when the rich and privileged are treated right. It starts with those who have been thrown into the bottom end of society

S. R.^___ exactly. Is she were from a low income and Racialised she wouldn’t even be acknowledged

Also: there are a lot of Trans* spaces that don’t get much attention, when white led campaigns and actors do:

Kim At Cwtp has been doing great work for years for the Trans community at UofT’s Centre for Women and Trans People.

That’s a place where a lot of TPOC come.

M. S.Furthermore on that, can we just compare this? Laverne Cox and Janet Mock – 2 black trans women who use their fame and voice to travel and talk about real issues and do actual advocacy work.

Caitlyn Jenner, a rich white republican woman does a photo shoot and an article to talk about herself.

But hey, let’s pay attention to the one making waves, right?

C. H.I’d be much happier if they had either Janet Mock or Laverne Cox on that magazine cover tbh. Thanks for writing this!

M. S.:C- only problem is Laverne and Janet probably don’t have that extra money to pay a world famous photographer to get their photo on a “notable” magazine

C. H.Is that it? I’m not sure if that’s how vanity fair or magazines in general works. They clearly selected Caitlyn for the fact that she’s in the spotlight right now and drawing attention of people. Its all about who would pick up a copy of the magazine based on who is on the cover

We need a “portal” of some sort that highlights and promotes Trans* people of colour as community activists, community leaders, INSPIRE Awards‘ nominees, Toronto artists and designers and as future political candidates…

Otherwise the media will keep going to the white Trans* people or cis people who represent us.

M. S.:C–, you also made a very important point. Why was she selected for a cover article? Sales. Does the magazine suddenly care about trans folks? Do they suddenly feel like it’s time for social change in the right direction?

Hardly.

It all sales. Money. Revenue. What is peaking the (brainless) masses’ interest. Again – nothing in the article covering social justice, or speaking out against bathroom discrimination bills. Just useless chatter about one person talking about themselves, yet again. And money is to be made from that. Cos heaven knows, social change isn’t a money-maker.

Conversation 2.

S. C.Kind of feels like Cox is disappointed in the choice Jenner made?

She seems to be celebrating the generally positive reception of the Vanity Fair splash by taking the opportunity to bring attention to the impact of privilege, class, and traditional views of beauty on the trans community. I lik

ed her caution that the diversity of the community is not yet even close to being captured and her call to action to provide support for many in the community who are struggling with the day-to-day. Time and VF covers are cultural milestones but more work is to be done…

S. C.Oh, I didn’t get that sense. Cox could’ve just done a full-on congrats and left it at that. Maybe because Jenner is a Republican and numerous have noted she’s always been an uncritical fame seeker, but I really get a sense that Cox is sending a message to Jenner here or to the public and that she’s also thinking through her own engagement with beauty standards and all the intersections. Could be wrong! But seems like she’s worried about Jenner as a role model.

Freddie ArpsI feel that she is critical of Jenner as well as of herself- of not making sure that her story is about more than her own feelings, struggle and beauty.

Maybe she realizes that cis people by and large didn’t hear her at all.

I think she feels guilty about being naive? Her photoshoot didn’t lead people to look at her as a person but as a benchmark for transitioned women…

I definitely read a warning from her to all privileged Trans* people.

This is the second time she makes the particular point about most Trans* people not having access to healthcare, safety, security, washrooms, a living wage…

Cause when it’s white it’s right:
Carefully watches on as ‪#‎CallMeCaitlyn‬ opens the eyes of blinded wp while while Trans and Gender non conforming Black, Indigenous and Womyn of Color stand back miming “but we’ve been saying this for decades, look at our blood spilled in the streets …”‪#‎StigmaKills‬‪#‎Dignity4AllWomyn‬

Doug KerrThere is lots of blame to go around – North American fundamentalist churches, British colonial laws, the Jamaican government, Jamaican churches, Jamaican media…. Homophobia & transphobia knows no boundaries.

Akio MaroonAbsolutely true, but often the direct and continued impact Canada and the US currently has on Jamaica isn’t illuminated. But we stand in awe and applaud Caitlyn while denying that same freedom to others. Highlighting our hypocrisy is the point of my posts #CallmeCaitlyn

The day I see a white republican millionaire lady dedicate her fame/riches to the service of the housing, employing, feeding and proving health care and changing laws that target BIPOC Trans* womyn and girls; wether politically or through her own means then I gladly stfu but history dictates otherwise.
I will NOT be a party to the masbatory privilege gushing celebration while my people suffer. ‪#‎Callmecaitlyn‬

“trans women can’t pass for women. we ARE women.And not even women with a different kind of history. Women aren’t a monolith, there is no shared, universal experience of womanhood. You cannot pass as something you, in fact, actually are.”

Transgender Nepalis have grown up risking exclusion from society and, sometimes, their own families. Last month’s earthquake brought new problems – even finding a safe place to shelter was more difficult for them and other sexual minorities. […]

Tara Bhattarai is the head of the Nepal Red Cross Society’s gender and inclusion department.

She explains: “It’s our duty to support this vulnerable group. Many transgender people don’t get help from their families and are left to fend for themselves, even in times like this.”

Under Tara’s guidance, the Red Cross is working more closely with the Blue Diamond Society. In fact, the Red Cross is now raising awareness of minority groups among its staff and volunteers across the country. […]

Jessica Letch is a gender and protection advisor for the million Red Cross emergency earthquake operation in Nepal.

She was on the ground within days of the disaster and is determined that help will reach the most vulnerable – including women, children, people with disabilities and LGBTI people.

She says: “The Red Cross wants to respond to the diverse needs that exist within society, and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.”

“It takes a little bit of a change in thinking, and the Red Cross wants to be part of that change.”

“Our own history has not been a perfect history on point. The United States is not yet where it should be on this and other issues. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we’re not here to point fingers, that would be a hypocritical thing for us,” Larson said.”

RANDY Berry and Todd Larson wanted Jamaicans to have a clear understanding of the reason for their visit to the island last week. So, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer lasting just under 30 minutes, the US Government officials stated m …

Maurice TomlinsonThanks, Freddie! I am STILL hoping that the issue of EXPORTED homophobia will be acknowledged, and I said as much to someone from the US govt. today. It is absolutely crucial to disrupt the narrative that somehow people from the global south are inherently and intrinsically homophobic. We are not. We had to be TAUGHT to hate.

Freddie ArpsExported homophobia needs to be addressed: the past and present campaigns that Christianists are waging.

Do we actually know anything about the start of homophobia or misogyny?

Does it just come from fear of the “other” and did all societies know some form of it?

I always thought Wicca/paganism/Druidism had none of it, but I don’t know for sure…

Stephen TattleI have to admit that I struggle with the “exported homophobia” concept as being THE reason. It seems a little too simple an explanation. Do people not have the choice whether or not they buy into what they hear? Where is individual responsibility?

Freddie ArpsThat’s how mass hysteria works though… Large groups and repetition, repetition, repetition.

Individual emotions and reactions disappear and with them individual responsibility…

It’s psych 101 unfortunately.

We could have prosecuted every individual in Germany after world war 2. We stuck with leaders and exceptionally murderous doctors and camp guards.

We opted to see choice as murky water and to understand that people as a group act differently than they would have on their own.

That is why it is so important to react with Maurice Tomlinson‘s “acknowledge, respect and engage”

We in “the group of” Canada, Europe used to dismiss LGBTI persons as unacceptable.

Now we need to engage people in other countries by giving them information and ideas about how to accept LGBTI persons in their lives and in their communities. And connect those to their own culture that has plenty of space for acceptance. Probably start with this last part.

Stephen TattleI keep saying to myself – some day when Maurice and I are both in the office, I really need to grab him for a quick lunch to discuss this and to figure out what I am apparently not seeing.

Maurice TomlinsonStephen, research conducted by the University of the West Indies in 2011 and 2012 highlighted the correlation between religious fundamentalism and murder music (which itself relies on religious fundamentalism for most of its lyrics). So, while Jamaicans certainly have the agency to hate, they had to be taught whom to hate. And this (mis)education is the function of imported evangelical religious practice and a centuries old British colonially-imposed anti-gay law. Regrettably, in Jamaica as elsewhere, many people are simply too lazy to interrogate the root of their deeply held homophobia. It is easier to simply accept that gays are an “abomination” because the pastor says so.

Stephen TattleMaurice Tomlinson There are about 150 things/questions I would like to say/ask in response, but it is not possible in a forum such as this. I am not a “tech” guy and am new to social media and I cannot express opinions in few enough words which a forum such as this requires. I am still a old-school talker who needs 2-way exchange of ideas to form opinions and understand things, which our electronic age makes more and more challenging! I would still love an opportunity to discuss this issue and hope that might some day be possible.

Very simple really. If you get the message you aren’t worth the money to clean the building, you’ll stop caring about it being clean, you’ll stop caring about keeping it clean.

Research shows that if you leave a car with a broken window on the street, next day it will have two broken windows and the lights knocked out. Day three and someone cut the tires. A week later nothing is left unbroken.

“But CBC video of the building showed rotting walls and broken concrete. The garbage chutes were said to be damaged and disposal areas dark and filthy.”

“Prosecutors appealed the judges’ decision as ‘perverse and irrational’ and The Federation of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transsexuals is calling for the the two judges to be impeached.”

Doesn’t happen that often that prosecutors criticize a judge’s decision this harshly.

Argentina may have opened up marriage to same sex couples but the influence of the Catholic Church is still very, very strong and it preaches hate for women, girls, The Gays, Trans* people, sex workers, feminists… and on and on… All the while sitting on piles of gold and large tracts of land, eating grade 1 Argentinean steak, drinking expensive wines. But I digress.

“Piombo defended the ruling Monday in radio interviews , saying that the boy had already been ‘initiated by his father into the worst of worlds, leading him to depravation.’

He said that ‘as a result of that experience with the father, the child had showed signs of a transvestite conduct, of conduct we had to take into account.”

I’m glad for the Irish and I can’t quite stomach the idea that a country full of heterosexual people voted on our having human rights. Especially since there were apparently two other ways in the legal system to gain marriage equality.

Irish constitutional scholars (at Marriage Equality):

“What does the Irish Constitution say about marriage?
The Irish Constitution does not define marriage as being between a man and a woman, and so Marriage Equality believe that the Constitution’s definition of “the family” could include same-sex relationships.

The Courts and Marriage: The legal system (ie: our courts) simply interprets the constitutional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. The Constitution is considered to be a living document, open to interpretation by the judges in the Supreme Court, to reflect the changing values of Irish society. It is, therefore, open to change.

Legislation and Marriage: Legislation was introduced in 2004 (The Civil Registration Act) that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
This legislation could be amended at any time to define marriage in gender neutral terms.”

I checked the Irish constitution and the above seems to be correct: http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/February_2015_-_Constitution_of_Ireland_.pdf